2011 Tenerife World Cup

Planet Win 365 - Day three: A dramatic end to the double elimination saw Daida Ruano Moreno and Philip Koster battle through the super-finals to confirm their places as event winners.

The event site was flooded with spectators descending from all over Tenerife to catch a glimpse of the world’s finest wave sailors battle it out for the event victory.

With only four remaining heats left in the men’s double elimination and three in the women’s, the judges delayed the start of competition until 11am, in order to make the best use of the rising tide. When the green flag was raised the conditions were perfect allowing the sailors to burst into action and execute their maneuvers with faultless precision.

Men’s Fleet

The men’s fleet kicked the day off with Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) taking on his close friend Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360). Mussolini was hoping to continue with his rampage through the double elimination, however Bruch had other plans. Bruch opened the heat with a one footed backloop, then picked up a wave and pulled three vertical top turns. Mussolini secured a solid wave score nailing wave 360 but he was unable to find a jump ramp allowing Bruch to take the win with a 4-1 decision from the judges.

Ecstatic with his first win Bruch relaxed into his heat against Brazil’s Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde). Once again the local favourite opened with a monster backloop and then made sure he ripped apart the biggest sets, whereas Seadi wasted a large part of the heat searching earnestly for a suitable ramp. Bruch went about landing wave 360’s and well-timed cut backs to provide him with the advantage. With little time left on the clock Seadi began to panic and he started to hunt for waves to ride. Luck was on his side and he managed to score the best wave in the heat with a backside 360 and three swift turns however it was too little too late and Bruch advanced.

Bruch then went onto challenge Australian wave ripper Jaeger Stone (Severne) to decide who would advance into the final. Bruch was really coming into his own by heat fifty, pulling super aggressive cut backs and sending walls of spray all over the place. Stone was selecting big waves and dominating his first turn but struggling to follow it up with a further maneuver. Consistent Bruch took full advantage of his local knowledge to pull some slick turns on the best waves, allowing him to advance in the final to face Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine).

Men’s Final

The opening jumps saw Koster rotate around a super-fast double forward loop, and Bruch drop out the sky on two pushloop attempts. Unhappy with his aerials Bruch stormed out the back of the arena and picked up an enormous wave, the local sailor continued with his wave rides throughout the heat outdoing himself with every turn. Koster was struggling to stay upright after his initial smacks. Koster held the advantage with the jumps up until the final minute when Bruch launched into a one footed backloop. Bruch’s hard work paid off and he was awarded the win with a 2-1 decision from the judges.

Having taken down the event leader, Bruch now had to take him on again in a super-final to decide once and for all who would be crowned the event winner.

Men’s Super-final

The duo took to the water once again, enraged by his earlier performance Koster flew around his opening double forward loop landing bolt upright. The sailors picked up waves, but both fell off the back on initiating their maneuvers. Bruch picked up a big wave and dominated it all the way to the beach, Koster replied with his own equally impressive wave. Determined to take the win Koster launched into his second double forward loop but this time landed planning. The judges were amazed by his performance and awarded him the highest scores. Koster was announced the overall event winner at the prizing giving on the beach.

Winner’s Quote

Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine) “I feel amazing, it feels like a dream come true, I didn’t think that I had won. I was really angry in the water because I didn’t catch a really big wave so I knew I would have to do something really big. I wanted to try a triple forward but I landed a planning double forward instead. It was a really tough final, Dany Bruch was sailing really well his wave rides are amazing, I couldn’t feel better.”

Women’s Fleet

First to take to the water was Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) against Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne). The judges witnessed a particularly close heat between the sailors; both of them made use of their experience and selected the finest waves that rolled through. Jaggi held the advantage with her jumps for the majority of the heat; however Alonso’s vertical cut backs ensured her rides were awarded higher points. Alonso sneaked through the initial heat of the day with a 3-2 decision from the judges.

Alonso moved on to face Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne). Alonso continued with her incredible wave riding, however the might of Iballa, was too much to fend off as she landed a colossal back loop and selected two perfect waves to ride directly in front of the judges. The doors to the Moreno final were kept closed for Alonso as Iballa advanced.

Women’s Final

The twin’s Iballa and Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne), took centre stage once again and went to work displaying their most impressive moves. Iballa was fired up from her previous win and landed a clean backloop providing her with the advantage. She then went on to select the largest waves in the heat and take the biggest risks, working them frontside all the way to the inside, while Daida was playing it safe pulling her most consistent jumps and tackling the tamer waves upwind. Iballa was awarded for her efforts with the heat win, meaning the pair would have to enter the super final to decide who would take the event title.

Women’s Super-final

Having seen her sister’s tactics Daida was ready for battle, she opened the heat a smooth wave ride providing her with the early advantage. Eager to land a backloop Iballa went for six attempts but the ramps weren’t launching her high enough. Daida continued with her wave riding in front of the judges and then secured the heat win with a perfect backloop in the closing seconds.

The victors were awarded their crowns in front of a large crowd on the beach shortly after.

Having completed the double elimination in record time the competitors were released for the day. That does not conclude the action in Tenerife, the will be plenty more adrenaline filled days on their way, in the form of super sessions and such like. Keep your eyes on www.pwaworldtour.com for further updates.